Electric socket



Jan; 28, 1930. WERMINE 71,745,133

" ELECTRIC SOCKET Filed Feb. 14, 1927 QZTU GW. 3[ 1/990 if. ZI/enwnna Patented 1.... 28, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HUGO HJWERMINE, OF VILLA PARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'I'O IBELDEN MANUFACTUR- ING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OFILLINOIS ELECTRIC SOCKET Application filed February 14, 1927. Serial No. 167,937.

This invention relates to electric sockets and particularly to electric sockets for use in connection with a string of Christmas tree lights which are connected either in parallel 5 or in series. I

One object of the invention is to provide a socket which is provided with means whereby it may be easily and quickly connected to a pair of electric conductors. Another object is to provide means for making connection with the conductors which will insure good,

7 electrical contact and which will be a permanent connection and not readily broken.

Other objects are to providea socket construction in which the connections with the conductors are not readily affected by rain or snow when used in the open ;v to provide a socket consisting of parts of relatively simple construction and consequently adapted to be manufactured at a comparatively low cost, and to provide a socket structure in which the parts may be assembled with great facilit Other objects and advantages will be understood by reference to the following specification in connection with the accompanying drawing in which I have illustrated a selected embodiment of the invention and in which:.

Fig. 1 is an axial section through the socket. Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig.1. Fig. 3 is a section showing a portion of Fig. 1, before the socket is permanently connected to a pair of conductors, and i Fig. 4 is a'detail of a part of the socket 5 structure.

Referring now to the drawings, a casing indicated at 10 isprovided with a'relatively large recess 11 in one end which is reduced somewhat as indicated at 12, towards its its opposite end as indicated at 13 and 14 with a pair of relatively small recesses, and also with a circular recess as indicated at 29 is provided at its upper end with an out inner end. The casing is further recessed in.

adjacent its lower end. The recesses 13 andv wardly flaring flange 18 which rests against the walls ofthe recess 11 adjacent the upper edge of the casing and thereby positions the shell substantially coaxial with the casing. The lower end of the shell fits more or less snugly in the reduced portion 12 of the recess 11 and is thereby held in the desired position. This end of the shell is further posiis disposed in the recess 14: alongside the connector strip 19. The connector strip 19 is slotted at its end as indicated at 24 and is bent over the head of the contact member 21, the slot in the strip receivin of the contact member. It will l ie seen that the shell 17 and the conductor contact 21 are anchored in the casing by'the connector strip 19. The shell 17 is provided with means for receiving and interlocking with the base of; an electric lamp and in the present instance this means consists of screw threading as clearly shown in Fig. 1.

A central contact member '25preferably provided with an upstanding portion 26 exthe shank tends through the aperture 15 and engages a second conductor contact member 27 disposed in the recess 13. Thecontact member 27'consists of a shank 22 and head 23 and is similar to the contact member 21 above described and the member 25 is also provided with a slot 28 in'its end whereby the end portion of the member may be bent over the head of the contact member, the slot receiving the shank as above described in connection with the contact member 21. It will be noted'that the center contact 25 is locked in the casing since the portioncarrying the upstanding part 26v engages the bottomof the recess 11- and the portion which engages the head of the contact member 27 clamps the contact member against the bottom wall of the recess 13.

- the shanks may conveniently be bent over as indicated at 34 and 35 so as to lock the con ductors on the shanks.

The conductors 30 and 31 are disposed in the circular recess 29 and extend outwardly therefrom through the notches 36 and 37 provided therefor in the casing. A cover or cap member 38 is provided for the lower end of the casing and for protecting the conductors and their connections therein. This cover is preferably permanently fastened in place by means of a tubular rivet as indicated at 39, which .rivet is preferably molded in place in the bottom portion of the casing 11. When the socket isto be, used on the outside where it is subjected to snow and rain, the recesses 13 and 14 and 29 may ,be filled with a suitable sealing compound so as to further protect the connections and so as to prevent possible short circuiting thereof, due to snow or mm.

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated the bottom portion of the socket as it appears before the shell 17 and center contact member 25 are locked in place and connected to the conductor contact members 21 and 27. It will be readily understood that the connector strip 19, if a separate piece, may be secured to the shell 17 before the shell is inserted into the casin and that the shell and strip may thereaftere positioned in the casing with the strip 19 projecting, through the aperture 16. The contact mem er 21 is then positioned in the recess 14 and the lower end of the strip 19 then bent over the underside of the head 23 of the member 21. The center contact member 25 and headed contact 27 are assembled in a similar manner.

I am aware that various changes in the form and proportion of parts as well as in the arrangement thereof, may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims, which should be construed as broadly as possible, consistent with the state of the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a socket of the class described, a casing having recesses in opposite ends thereof and provided with an aperture connecting said recesses, means in one of said recesses for receivin the base of an electric lamp and for establishing electrical connection therewith, so as to include the lamp in an electric circuit, a headed member disposed in the other of said recesses, and provided with an the contact members outwardl extending shank adapted to he connecte to an electric conductor, and means for electrically connecting a portion of said lamp receiving means and said headed member comprising a connector strip extending through said aperture, electrically connected at one end to a portion of said lamp receiving means, and having a portion at its opposite end fitting around said shank and engaging the head of said headed member, said connector stri being also effective to lock said lamp receiving portion and said headed member in the casing.

2. In a socket of the class described, the combination of a casing having a relatively large recess in its upper end, and a pair of spaced and relatively small recesses in its lower end separated from said large recess by an intermediate Wall, said intermediate wall having a pair of apertures extending therethrough and connecting said large recess with said pair of small recesses respectively, a shell in said large recess for receiving the base of an electric lamp, a center contact member in said large recess adjacent the bottom thereof, a pair of headed conductor contacts disposed respectively in said small recesses and having elongated shanks extending therefrom, and means for connecting said shell and center contact respectively to one of said conductor contacts and comprising metallic strips connected respectively at one end to the shell and center contact and having their respective opposite ends inserted from said large recess, through said apertures and into said small recesses and there bent over the heads of said conductor contacts so as to establish electrical connection therewith, the ends of said strips being slotted and fitting around said shanks.

3. In a socket of the class described, the combination of a casing having a relatively large recess in its upper end, and a pair of spaced and relatively small recesses in its lower end separated from said large recess by an intermediate wall, said intermediate Wall having a pair of apertures extending therethrough and connecting said large recess with said pair of small recesses respectively, a shell in said large recess for receiving the base of an electric lamp, acenter contact member in said large recess adjacent the bottom thereof, a pair of headed conductor contacts disposed respectively in said small recesses and having elongated shanks extending therefrom, means for connecting said shell and center contact respectively to one of said conductor contacts and comprising metallic strips connected respectively at one end to the shell and center contact and having their respective opposite ends inserted from said large recess, through said apertures and into said small recesses and there bent over the heads of said conductor contacts so as to establish electrical connection therewith, the

ends of said strips being slotted and fitting around said shanks, a cover for said lower end com rising adisk having an aperture and means or securing said cover in place on said lower end comprising a tubular rivet" anchored in said lower end, projecting therefrom and through the aperture in said cover, and having its outer end headed over said cover substantially as described. 7

4:. In combination with a casing having a socket for receiving the base of an electric lamp, a stranded electric current conductor, a headed spike having a shank piercing said conductor and extending therethrough and having the projecting end portion clinched over the conductor, and a connector element for establishing electrical connection between said conductor and said lamp, and

having a portion thereof interposed between the head of the spike and the'conductor, the clinched over portion of said spike being adapted to force said conductor against said interposed connector element portion, thereby to force said interposed connector portion into good electrical contact with the head of said spike.

5. In combination with a casing having a socket for receiving the base of an electric lamp, a stranded electric current conductor, having a sheath of insulating material, a headed spike having a shank piercing said sheath and conductor and extending through,v

same, and having its end portion projecting from and clinched over the opposite side thereof, and a connector element for establishing electrical connection between said conductor and said lamp and having a portion thereof interposed between the head of the spike and the insulating sheath of the conductor, the clinched over portion of said spike being adapted to force said conductor against said interposed connector element portion, thereby to force said interposed connector portion into good electrical contact with the head of said spike.

6. In a socket of the class described, the

combination of a casing having a relatively large recess in one end and a pair of smaller recesses in its opposite end, said smaller recesses being separated from said larger recess by an intermediate wall portion of the casing and said wall having a pair of apertures extending therethrough for respectively connecting said small recesses with said large recess, a contact shell in said large recess, a center contact member also in said large recess, disposed adjacent the bottom thereof and insulated from said shell, a pair of relatively insulated headed contact'members respectively disposed in said smaller recess with their heads adjacent said intermediate wall, and a pair of connectors extending through said apertures, connected respectively to sald shell and center contact at one end and overlapping said headed members, saidconnectors serving to electrically connect the respective headed members with said shell and center contact and also serving to lock the connected members in their recesses.

7. In an electric socket of the class described, the combination of a casin having recesses in its opposite ends, one 0 said recesses being adapted to receive the base of an electric lamp, -a contact member in said recess for establishing electric connection w1th such lamp, a contact member in the other of said recesses for establishing electrical connection with a conductor, and a flat strip connector for establishing electrical connection between said lamp contact and said conductor contact, one end of said connector being secured to said lamp contact and the other end being bent over the conductor contact and incidentally serving to lock sald contact members in their respective recesses. 

